Education: its elementary principles, founded on the nature of man / by J.G. Spurzheim ... With an appendix by S.R. Wells, containing a description of the temperaments, and a brief analysis of the phrenological faculties.

  • Spurzheim, J. G. (Johann Gaspar), 1776-1832.
Date:
1848
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Education: its elementary principles, founded on the nature of man / by J.G. Spurzheim ... With an appendix by S.R. Wells, containing a description of the temperaments, and a brief analysis of the phrenological faculties. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    My ideas on the nature of man, on his funda¬ mental powers ; on their innateness ; on the con¬ ditions of their manifestations in this life ; on the moral liberty, and several other points, are ex¬ posed, with details, in works entitled Physiologi¬ cal and Philosophical Principles of Phrenology. I suppose these points to be known to those who take up this volume, composed merely with phre¬ nological views, and founded on mere phrenologi¬ cal principles. In treating of Education and Legislation, it seems important to examine, Whether there is only one species of the human race, or whether there are several ? The great variety of bodily and mental appearances;—of features, complexion, .Jze, and configuration ;—of feelings and intellect¬ ual powers,—must strike the most superficial observer. The causes of these differences have been examined, and various hypotheses have been invented to account for them. Some authors have had recourse to different original species ; others have accounted for these modifications, by the common laws of nature. It is indeed natural to ask, Whether a Negro and a White Man, a Dwarf and a Giant, a Hottentot and Lord Bacon, are of the same species ? Whether the Cannibal, whose earthly and expected heavenly pleasures arc gratifications of the low animal passions, and the true Christian, full of kindness and benignity ;